The Benefits of Kitchen Remodeling

Considering a kitchen remodel in Portland? Here are four compelling reasons why homeowners choose to transform the heart of their home:

1. Improved Functionality

One of the top reasons for remodeling a kitchen is to improve how the space functions. This often comes as a result of several flaws in the original design which make the cooking process less efficient.

In a kitchen, every design element interacts with every other one. For example:

• The placement of appliances affects the storage needs of adjacent cabinetry
• Cabinet doors affect the walkways and traffic flow between different workspaces
• The traffic flow between workspaces influences where the appliances can go

For somebody without any experience in kitchen design, this can often feel like an endless game of whack-a-mole. You solve one issue just in time for another to pop up somewhere else. Many homeowners choose to work with a professional kitchen designer for this exact reason.

The benefits of working with an experienced designer include:

• Identifying and solving design issues that negatively impact the way you interact with your kitchen
• Incorporating design features that actively benefit your kitchen’s functionality
• Creating a holistic design that eliminates problems while implementing solutions

It’s not just about eliminating the things that aren’t working. It’s also about identifying and implementing what will work well in place of those things. If you’re interested in a new look for your kitchen reach out to our design team.

2. A Space Personalized for Your Lifestyle

So, what design features should your kitchen have to fit your needs? The answer depends on several factors related to your lifestyle. A kitchen designed specifically for you should take into account what makes you different from other homeowners, and how those differences affect the way you use your kitchen.

Consider the needs of a young couple with no children who frequently eat out compared to a large family who cooks and eats at home together every night:

Young Couple Needs:

• Basic appliances
• Minimal countertop space
• Limited cabinet storage

Large Family Needs:

• Larger prep spaces
• More stove burners
• Extra-large refrigerator
• Expanded storage solutions

Personalizing the design of a kitchen is another area where professional designers excel. When you work with a designer, you’re no longer responsible for finding design solutions that will benefit your lifestyle. Instead, you simply tell your designer about yourself – how you live, how you cook, what you want to be able to do in your kitchen – and they will recommend design elements that help achieve your goals.

Examples of personalized features:

• Multiple ovens for baking enthusiasts
• Workstation sinks for those who entertain frequently
• Integrated, cabinet-faced appliances for those who prioritize visual design
• Custom storage solutions for specialized cooking equipment

The important part is that in the end, you get a kitchen that resembles a well-tailored suit – custom-fit specifically to you.

3. Enhanced Home Value

Remodeling your kitchen is a difficult decision to make. A lot of homeowners get hung up on the price. If you’re going to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a kitchen remodel, it had better pay off, right?

While a custom kitchen remodel certainly adds to the quality of your home life, it can also add value to your home. The key to a financially profitable remodel is patience. The simple truth is that a remodel is a long-term investment. If you plan to sell your home in the next couple of years, you might want to think twice about an expensive remodel. However, the longer you hold your home after remodeling, the more value it adds to your home.

How kitchen remodels build value:

• A kitchen remodel can add anywhere from 50%-80% of its contract price back into the value of your home immediately
• Market value continues to increase year by year
• After 3-5 years at an average rate of growth, the remodel often becomes profitable
• The principle of compounding interest works in your favor over time

At Lamont Bros, we use a proprietary remodel investment calculator tool to estimate how long it takes for a remodel to become financially profitable. You can use this tool to compare side by side how much your home will be worth after a certain amount of time. 

Portland Sample Home Graph: Value of a Remodel

This graph shows how a remodel changed the value of a Portland home

4. Updated Style & Aesthetics

Sometimes, the way your kitchen looks can be a compelling enough reason for a remodel. Maybe it’s a little too 1990s. Or maybe it just doesn’t match your style, whatever that may be. In any case, it’s completely reasonable for you to want to like the way your kitchen looks. After all, it is your kitchen.

There’s no use beating around the bush – some kitchens are just outdated. It’s okay to admit it. We’ve remodeled a lot of kitchens built in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s that were probably considered stylish in their day. Now a few decades down the road, styles have changed. That, coupled with the fact that most of these kitchens have seen better days, often warrants a remodel.

Common aesthetic improvements include:

• Updating cabinet finishes from dated stains to modern colors
• Replacing outdated countertop materials with contemporary options
• Installing new lighting that enhances both function and style
• Creating a more open, flowing space that reflects today’s lifestyle

Current interior design trends tend to fall under transitional style, a combination of both traditional and contemporary influences. It’s a modern twist on a classic design. As a result, there’s a lot of flexibility when it comes to designing a kitchen that fits your taste while also remaining universally stylish. You can draw from a multitude of both classic and current inspirations. 

Visual aesthetics is yet another element of kitchen remodeling that greatly benefits from a designer’s expertise. A skilled designer can help you sift through different design elements that speak to you, and then incorporate them into your kitchen remodel design. That way, you end up with a design that is cohesive, tasteful, and follows the principles of transitional style.

Ready to Explore Your Kitchen Remodeling Options?

Now that you understand the key benefits of remodeling your kitchen, you might be wondering what type of remodel is right for your home.

Continue to Types of Kitchen Remodels →

Or if you’re ready to discuss your project with our design team, schedule a consultation today →